Today’s walk was great. Again, no rain and much happiness for that. We are slowly starting the climb to the highest point on the Camino Frances. The countryside has changed again, big open fields, then uncleared bush, then pine forests and finally we enter the foothills leading up to the mountains which you can see in the background of the photos
Along the way we came across the “Cowboy Bar”…whiskey shots at 11.00am – hilarious and totally incongruous break on the way but it works because it seems everyone stops. The journey then started taking us through the most amazing small villages, each of course with a church and in most instances many are being restored. Those villages that have benefited from the Camino path coming through have been saved. We calculate that from about May to October you are looking at 5000 people per week walking past or through your village. Most are now set up with Albergues and almost all offer Peregrino Menu. Cold water and in my case Americans Coffee (long black) is served everywhere. There is always someone stopping somewhere.
The village we are staying in tonight is fantastic and the ONLY business is Camino business. We are staying in a totally bohemian Casa Rural – a restored old Spanish country home around a fully enclosed courtyard. The two young people who have done the restoration are in their mid twenties and are cousins – it is vibrant in colours and has a great “treat the kitchen as if you’re at home” feel. Tonight the second church in the town has Gregorian chant commencing at 7.00pm so we are heading up there….when in Spain….
Tomorrow we get to the top of the mountain – another milestone and they are all rapidly coming to the end of the journey. We have 11 walking days left and can hardly believe it….
Such an interesting journey. I’m feeling the need to follow in your footsteps.
Lori says she’s giving you time off……sorry (heheheh)
What are the yellow flowered bushes/small trees that appear in many of your photographs? Are they acacias? I know that Spain has imported eucalypts from Australia for paper pulp plantations – much to the chagrin of the farmers and shepherds who nicknamed the eucalypt as the fascist (or “capitalist”) tree – but I’m not sure that the same is true for the wattle.
Do you think whiskey shots at 11.00am will become a habit? I am sure that if I was walking up to 30 km a day I would be looking forward to one or more shots dispersed throughout the day.
Sue it is called Spanish Broom – there is also a version called French Broom…as for
Whiskey Shots – Jeanette figures that if Uros could start the day with them at 6.00am “what’s your problem…he lived to 90”….so really why are we waiting/